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bioRxiv · 10.1101/2025.09.17.676936

A mobile circular DNA element drives memory-related processes in mice

Ren, H.·Gong, H.·Liau, W.-S.·Zhao, Q.·Walsh, A.·Musgrove, M. R. B.·Davies, J.·Zajaczkowski, E. L.·Madugalle, S. U.·Marshall, P.·Lan, T.·Shi, J.·Jiang, J.·Wei, W.·Li, X.·Bredy, T.
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Abstract

Extrachromosomal circular DNAs (ecDNAs) are double stranded, closed loop DNA molecules that act independently of the genome. Here we report the discovery of a brain-enriched ecDNA, ecCldn34d, that regulates the transcriptional state of plasticity-related genes and is temporally associated with the stability of fear memories. ecDNA therefore represents a novel class of mobile DNA elements that are involved in experience-dependent neuroadaptation.

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Ren, H., Gong, H., Liau, W.-S., Zhao, Q., Walsh, A., Musgrove, M. R. B., Davies, J., Zajaczkowski, E. L., Madugalle, S. U., Marshall, P., Lan, T., Shi, J., Jiang, J., Wei, W., Li, X., Bredy, T.. 2025-09-19. A mobile circular DNA element drives memory-related processes in mice. https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.09.17.676936

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